NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., July 13, 2020 – The Newport Ocean Sailing Association welcomed the 2020-2021 board at its annual meeting yesterday and honored long-time board member, committee chair and 30-year volunteer Doug Campbell for his service to the organization.
Campbell is the second recipient of the Joseph R. Baiunco Memorial Trophy, gifted to NOSA by the Baiunco family in 2019. The award recognizes a long-serving volunteer who has sailed at least five of the iconic Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Races and has contributed to the 73-year-old sailing organization’s mission of promoting the sport of ocean racing, and the development of local sailing activities.
The first boat Campbell sailed N2E on was “Red Line”, a Santa Cruz 29-footer that he and skipper Hobie Alter, and an all-Hobie Cat crew out of Dana Point. “We didn’t know much about monohull sailing and didn’t trophy - but we had so much fun, we started the Hobie design project for the future Hobie 33,” he recalled.
Since that first race, he said he’s been involved in just about every N2E race until retiring in 2018 has was left with many murky, hazy, happy memories.
“NOSA to me is a combination of wonderful sailors, lifetime friends, and happy people - all part of a great organization that fully meets one of my personal goals in life – “Have fun – and never miss a party!”
Notably, the former president and CEO of the Hobie Cat Company, Campbell was NOSA’s chief judge for 15 years; and also worked at the 1996 Savannah Olympics and a couple of Pan Am Games after becoming a certified international and U.S. sailing judge.
“Doug Campbell is a world-class gentleman!” said Toni Baiunco, who nominated the sailor. The board approved the nomination at the June meeting. “He is a super friend, a fabulous volunteer who strives for perfection, putting in as many hours as needed to complete a project, and then some.”
During his years of service, Campbell has also been NOSA’s principal race officer, on finance and budget committees, was RC chair, he helped write notices of race and managed the race headquarters and results operations, giving tirelessly of his time and proficiencies.
“Doug has been very instrumental in NOSA for as long as I have been involved, which is since 2001,” said Staff Commodore David Garcia (2007.) “He was a valued board member, CFO, headquarters chairman, racer and much more. And, he was very instrumental in creating the current financial model alongside Paul DeCapua and Joe Baiunco.”
Staff Commodore DeCapua (2005), said that Campbell was integral to the team that developed the first formal NOSA budget; a model that Joe Baiunco employed every year thereafter during his 13-year tenure as CFO.
DeCapua’s 20 years of service to NOSA was also recognized at the meeting. Although he had taken on many roles for NOSA, his last was a Webmaster.
Normally, recipients would be invited to the annual meeting to receive trophies and plaques in person, but distancing requirements lead the entire event to be held via Zoom.
Although disappointed by the unfortunate postponement of this year’s N2E, the board met Sunday to install the newest chairs and board members and instill a renewed level of enthusiasm for the 2021 race.
William Gibbs of Pierpont Bay Yacht Club, a multiple-time N2E trophy winner, returns as Commodore. Jo Ann Sedgewick of Silver Gate Yacht Club will take on the role of Vice Commodore - Race and Mary Bacon of Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club returns as Vice Commodore – Administration.
David Normandin of Dana Point Yacht Club was nominated as a new board member and was voted in as a director today. Bruce Cooper and Philip Herzfeld were reconfirmed to their board positions.
Joseph Baiunco did much for the sailing community and the advancement of racing during more than 30 years of service to the sport. Not just at NOSA, but through his work with the Southern California Yachting Association, the Yacht Racing Union of Southern California and the Recreational Boaters of California, in addition to being Commodore of his home yacht club.
Baiunco and his entire family loved to sail and loved to race; competing in nine N2E’s on his own boats and crewing for others three times. He became a part of NOSA’s history in 1990 taking on various volunteer roles until becoming CFO in 2006. He helmed and nurtured the organization’s financial health until his own gave out June 2, 2018.
Staff Commodore Jerry Moulton, (1991) and Vice Commodore of Race from 2016 through 2018, was the award’s first recipient.
